Working hunter... Showing. Shall I bother?

[Michen]

I know nothing about working hunter classes but was vaguely considering taking B to some later in the summer for a bit of fun. I am awful judge of confo but I appreciate he's not the best He also has a hernia on his belly which you can just see from the photo but is more noticeable in real life, I assume this will be counted as a blemish!

To his credit he jumps beautifully, rarely touches a pole and actually has nice correct paces. He is 15hh...

Shall I even bother or will we be bottom of the pack based on hernia alone? He is lean and fit (or rather was but will be once he's back into work after a disasterous shoeing) which I suppose is not quite the right look for showing!

 

[spacefaer]

He's actually not badly put together at all! He's got a good hindleg, is pretty well in proportion (to be very picky, I'd like a bigger shoulder and to be slightly finer where his head joins his neck) but for his stamp, he's a very nice sort.

If you are thinking R.C/local shows, if he will jump a stylish clear round, and look pretty trotting round the ring with his head tucked in, the judge should definitely consider you. He'd look too small in any higher standard show but he's a very nice sort.

 

[Michen]

Oh yes definitely local level! Just for a bit of fun. Would he need to be in a double? He jumps much better in a snaffle...

I suppose the hernia might be questionable!

He's actually not badly put together at all! He's got a good hindleg, is pretty well in proportion (to be very picky, I'd like a bigger shoulder and to be slightly finer where his head joins his neck) but for his stamp, he's a very nice sort.

If you are thinking R.C/local shows, if he will jump a stylish clear round, and look pretty trotting round the ring with his head tucked in, the judge should definitely consider you. He'd look too small in any higher standard show but he's a very nice sort.

 

[HufflyPuffly]

Snaffle will be fine, (some judges like them in snaffles as it will show off their manners even more ), hernia may cost you points but only if he and another horse are so evenly matched the judge has to get very picky. My very lumpy show horse always did very well, even up to county level with windgalls and splints, so if they rest is good you should still do well .

 

[spacefaer]

You can do workers in any bit. Plain brown tack, saddle that shows off the shoulder as much as possible, very discreet numnah (not saddle cloth) boots for jumping phase, (take them off for the go-round). Martingale/breastplate allowed

Hernia won't help but it's on a point system, marks for jumping - style and performance, conformation and way of going, so if he scores highly on the other sections, the hernia won't lose him that much.

 

[Michen]

Ahhh all his tack is black typical! Forgot about that. Can you swap bits from jumping phase? I'm not convinced we will have much, if any brakes cantering in the ring with a bunch of other horses in a snaffle!

You can do workers in any bit. Plain brown tack, saddle that shows off the shoulder as much as possible, very discreet numnah (not saddle cloth) boots for jumping phase, (take them off for the go-round). Martingale/breastplate allowed

Hernia won't help but it's on a point system, marks for jumping - style and performance, conformation and way of going, so if he scores highly on the other sections, the hernia won't lose him that much.

 

[ester]

Is he full connie I can't remember, if so M+M workers and no need to plait.

I know plenty who show locally with black or mismatched tack so not the end of the world.

 

[HufflyPuffly]

Ahhh all his tack is black typical! Forgot about that. Can you swap bits from jumping phase? I'm not convinced we will have much, if any brakes cantering in the ring with a bunch of other horses in a snaffle!

Black tack is fine don't panic, but no you cannot change bits between phases, the only tack change permitted will be the removal of boots.

 

[Michen]

According to his passport though I joke he's part mule (he is the most handsome horse in the world to me though lol!).

His mane is... Interesting unplaited. Electric shock comes to mind!

Is he full connie I can't remember, if so M+M workers and no need to plait.

I know plenty who show locally with black or mismatched tack so not the end of the world.

 

[conniegirl]

Is he full connie I can't remember, if so M+M workers and no need to plait.

I know plenty who show locally with black or mismatched tack so not the end of the world.

at 15hh he is over height for a connie so wouldnt be able to do the M&M WHP classes as they have to be under 14.2hh for connies

 

[ester]

Ah true, though I am not sure locally anyone would check particularly as he would be swamped by bigger welshies. TBF I think he would probably look better plaited, and local M+M WHPS are usually barely 2ft so doesn't really show the biggers at their best either.

 

[spacefaer]

Ahhh all his tack is black typical! Forgot about that. Can you swap bits from jumping phase? I'm not convinced we will have much, if any brakes cantering in the ring with a bunch of other horses in a snaffle!

You have to go back in with the same bit (same tack) as you jumped in.

 

[Michen]

Fingers crossed he can hold his excitement together then!!!

You have to go back in with the same bit (same tack) as you jumped in.

 

[Bernster]

Hey, good to hear others are thinking of throwing their hat in the WH ring. I posted the other day asking for tips n wotnot. Like you, I'm going to be in sadly incorrect black tack, inc probably a jump saddle, unless I find brown stuff that fits F. Where are you off to - if I remember rightly you are not a million miles away from me?!

If you don't mind me hijacking, here are the pics I posted of my boy. Feedback would be nice please, although apologies the pics aren't as good/clear as they could be.

 

[Tiarella]

You wouldn't be able to do anything other than very local as for bsps/nps shows or shows run on their rules there isn't a class for you annoying really!

How is he? Does he still have bad lami?

 

[Michen]

I dont want to do anything other than very local, he's a jumping pony not a show pony. It's just a bit of fun!

Nope he's fine, vet doesn't now think "stress lami" as he's not reacting anywhere that he would be, just at the toe where they've been taken back too far. Probably another couple of weeks and he will be back in gentle work if that.

You wouldn't be able to do anything other than very local as for bsps/nps shows or shows run on their rules there isn't a class for you annoying really!

How is he? Does he still have bad lami?

 

[Michen]

Ahhhh he's lovely!! To be honest i just love summer shows as they remind me of being a kid, and often they have dressage and SJ so thought it might be fun to give a working hunter class a go.

I'm im Newbury berks...

Hey, good to hear others are thinking of throwing their hat in the WH ring. I posted the other day asking for tips n wotnot. Like you, I'm going to be in sadly incorrect black tack, inc probably a jump saddle, unless I find brown stuff that fits F. Where are you off to - if I remember rightly you are not a million miles away from me?!

If you don't mind me hijacking, here are the pics I posted of my boy. Feedback would be nice please, although apologies the pics aren't as good/clear as they could be.

 

[mirage]

Black tack is fine.W E have a black cob with black tack and the only two WH classes we have entered him in, he has come 3rd and 2nd. The judge said he would have come first if we'd polished our show a bit more. He was in a Dutch gag when placed 3rd, (we thought we might have braking issues in the group canter) and a snaffle when placed 2nd. Good luck.

 

[J&S]

I got Reserve Champion WH with black tack on my coloured pony at a local Pony club show. The clincher was her gallop, make sure you really go for this in your individual show. TBH I was pretty certain a lovely chestnut Welsh Cob would get it but the rider just didn't dare let him out down the long side.

 

[Jnhuk]

Local level WH - just got for it and enjoy and just don't get too stressed out about showing turnout for that level. Black tack etc fine.
Have even seen a lot of black jumping saddles and grackles at the Royal Highland Workers in recent years and that is reasonably posh so I wouldn't worry about it.

Just remember to find out when you are expected to show your gallop as sometimes that can be during your jump phase so ask the steward if you are not sure.

The scoring is weighted towards the jumping so excellent for you if he is a good jumper. I am sure someone on here knows that actual scoring system for workers.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

You have to go back in with the same bit (same tack) as you jumped in.

But you can use any bit you and the horse are comfortable in, Pelham's are very common in WH classes. I doubt very much that a small local show will have separate M&M WH classes, they certainly don't here! And you might have to mention to the judge that he is a Connie to explain the lack of plaits. If he jumps well, you have 50% of the marks already, jumping style and manners gets you up you another 10 (if BSPS mark scheme is used), so the hernia shouldn't lose you too many marks. Many WH have blemishes of the type which might have been sustained in the hunting field, so the judge will weigh everybody's blemishes up.

 

[Michen]

Trouble is he doesn't jump well in a pelham. But I am slightly concerned about group canter in the ring as he's a little.... Onward bound.

But you can use any bit you and the horse are comfortable in, Pelham's are very common in WH classes. I doubt very much that a small local show will have separate M&M WH classes, they certainly don't here! And you might have to mention to the judge that he is a Connie to explain the lack of plaits. If he jumps well, you have 50% of the marks already, jumping style and manners gets you up you another 10 (if BSPS mark scheme is used), so the hernia shouldn't lose you too many marks. Many WH have blemishes of the type which might have been sustained in the hunting field, so the judge will weigh everybody's blemishes up.

 

[ester]

Actually, surprisingly we seem to have loads of M+M workers round here, I wonder if it is because there are so many foresters about?

 

[Nappy Croc]

All our shows have at least 3 pony classes (the open being un age restricted and obviously up to 153 for plaiteds, 2 m+m classes (large and smalls) and the 3 horse classes!
Go in the bit you're most likely to jump clear in- you may not have a group canter even if you jump clear as the classes often you follow straight on with your show after the jumping

 

[spacefaer]

Bernster - Love your horse - really nice stamp.

Out of interest, your two pictures show exactly why working hunter saddles are used. In your pic with the jumping saddle and the forward cut numnah, I looked and thought "that horse has very little front and no shoulder" In the field pic, I admired his lovely front, and thought what a good length of rein he had, which is being completely hidden by the saddle and numnah.

If you can find a much smaller numnah, it would help enormously, as the saddle itself sits far enough back.

 

[Bernster]

Aww thanks SF, how lovely. And very interesting what you said about the pics and the impact of tack. Have looked again and I see what you mean. Because I know his shape under saddle (his back end is weaker than his front) I didn't really think about how it looks to an outsider eg judge, but I can see what a difference it could make! I think I can get hold of a more discrete numnah.

OP, was wondering if you're going to any that I'm going to. Dacorum and district on June 19 and south bucks in July. Not sure if location or timing works for you, but there are lots of fun little shows around which I'm really looking forward to!

 

[Michen]

Oh south bucks in July very poss, June is a write off for us after shoeing disaster. What are the details for south bucks?

Aww thanks SF, how lovely. And very interesting what you said about the pics and the impact of tack. Have looked again and I see what you mean. Because I know his shape under saddle (his back end is weaker than his front) I didn't really think about how it looks to an outsider eg judge, but I can see what a difference it could make! I think I can get hold of a more discrete numnah.

OP, was wondering if you're going to any that I'm going to. Dacorum and district on June 19 and south bucks in July. Not sure if location or timing works for you, but there are lots of fun little shows around which I'm really looking forward to!

 

[Bernster]

Not sure if this link works. If not, Google south bucks riding club as the schedules are on there. Lots of classes although actually just realised no working hunter, but there are showing ones and eventer challenge which I fancy. Dacorum do the working hunter and have shows later in the year too inc July 19 ��

http://static1.1.sqspcdn.com/static...y+2016.pdf?token=Y3/XKiJhQgliAtmLsZn5xnBkwbo=

 

[Peregrine Falcon]

Actually, surprisingly we seem to have loads of M+M workers round here, I wonder if it is because there are so many foresters about?

So doesn't that answer another qu for OP then? Where should she live?

 

[Michen]

So doesn't that answer another qu for OP then? Where should she live?

No no no I am certainly not choosing my future home based on suitable workers classes!!!!